What’s It Called When You Go Over in Blackjack?

Blackjack is a popular casino game that involves the use of cards. The main objective of this game is to beat the dealer by having a hand total that’s higher than theirs, without exceeding 21. The game can be played with one or multiple decks of cards, and it involves several terms that players must be familiar with in order to play effectively.

One such term is “going over” or “busting.” This happens when a player’s hand total exceeds 21. When this occurs, the player automatically loses the round, regardless of whether the dealer also busts.

In blackjack, each card has a value assigned to it. Cards numbered 2 through 10 have their face value, while face cards (jacks, queens, kings) are worth 10 points each. The ace can be worth either 1 or 11 points depending on which value will benefit the hand more.

To illustrate how going over works in blackjack, let’s consider an example:

A player is dealt a hand with an ace and a seven. They decide to hit and are dealt another card, which turns out to be a five. Their current hand total is therefore 13 (ace=11 + 7 + 5).

However, they still feel their hand isn’t strong enough to beat the dealer so they choose to hit once more and are dealt another card. This time they draw an eight which brings their hand total to 21 (ace=1 +7+5+8). At this point they should stop since any further hits could cause them to go over/bust.

Now let’s say instead of drawing an eight on their last hit they drew a ten-point card which would bring their total up to 23 (ace=1+7+5+10). This would mean they have gone over/busted and lost the round even if the dealer also busts.

It’s important to note that the dealer must follow certain rules in blackjack. They must draw cards until they reach a hand total of 17 or higher. If their total exceeds 21, they bust and all players who haven’t already busted are paid out according to their hand values.

To avoid going over/busting in blackjack, players should pay close attention to the value of their hands and the cards they are dealt. They should also consider the dealer’s upcard and use basic strategy to make informed decisions on whether to hit or stand.

In conclusion, going over/busting in blackjack occurs when a player’s hand total exceeds 21. It’s an important term to understand when playing this popular casino game, and players can avoid it by paying close attention to their hand values and using basic strategy.